Improvement in tops for carriages



GATBDW, lr. Tops for Garriages.

Patented Jan. 6,1874.

@Q6/mmm 3Sheets-fSheet 2.

Patented 1an.. 6, 1874- e. .B lg la ...H wr a u Rnb Tr. Ao Gf .S In. 0 I

l A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\.\W\\\\\ am. 5. SF2/AHM.

N UNITED STATEs PATENT GEEIOE.

l.TAOOB cATRow, JE., OE sPErNGFrELD, OHIO, AssIeNoE OE ONE-HALF His EIGHT To E. o. CONVERSE, OE sAME PLACE. i

IMPROVEMENT IN TOPS FOR CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,230, dated January 6," 1874; `application filed June 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB CATROw, Jr., of

.the city of Springiield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Carriage and Buggy Tops, of which the following is a speciiication:

My invention relates to an improved 1nan 11er of hing-ing or connecting the ends of the bows in a carriage or buggy top so that the hinged parts will be invisible; also, in so constructing the parts as to do away with the surplus leather heretofore required to form the flap part which hangs out over the hinged parts, (or the irons to which the bows are usually attached,) and the guard-rail which is placed around the arm-rest to protect these parts; The connections of the ends of the bows are made in such a manner as to allow of their being folded down into a recess between the squab and the cover, giving the parts a neat compact appearance when the top is let down. When the bows are raised up, and the top isset, in a carriage or buggy to whichmy invention is applied, the cloth or leather of the top sits perfectly smooth, close to the hows, without wrinkles or projections of any kind.

The drawings accompanying this specification, and made a part of the same, consist of three sheets-Sheet l with Figure l; Sheet 2 with Figs. 2, 3, and 4; Sheet 3 with Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the back portion of a sliding carriage-top having my invention applied to it. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section ot' the bow-connections in my invention, (full size,) with a section of the belt. Fig. 3 is a front view of the end section of the front bow, a section of the pillar to which it is hinged,

.and their attachments. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the pillar through line x x. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of that part to which the bows and their connections are attached, with a section ofthe top down, (trimmed,) this part containing a recess between the squab7 and cover, into which the arm c and its attached bows a and b fall, so as to hide them from view. The location of the arm c and bows attached to it is shown in dotted lines. Fig.`

6 is a plan view of this part with the bows removed.

A, Fig. 1, represents the carriage-top. l is the front bow 2', the middle, and 3 the back, bow. The front bow l has no slat-iron or linger attached to its end, but is hinged (at the end) directly to the pillar a, which is about five inches in height, by the long strap-hinge the top A is up. In this view the side curtains are removed to show the part-sA described. From the upper part of hingeb, which is marked b', the arm c projects backward about three and a half inches, the Iinger a of the bow 2 being hingedto it by a loose rivet about half-way between b and the end, where the linger b of the bow 3 is attached to it in the same manner. 4.Arm c is` connected with b by 'its roundedend g, which `is insertedthrough Q a hole, e', drilled through b about three and a halt' inches from the joint h,` and a rivet-head formed on theinside. The part g may be made straight where it passes through thehole i, or it may be made conical, as shown inFig. 2. The hole is made` so as to allow g to txmovably in its position, there being a slightside movement necessary in the arm c,to allow the bows to fold together without binding. The hinge b is secured to the end of A bow 1', and the pillar a by screws s, asshown inFig. 2. Pillar a, is framed into the belt-piece c', so as to make la solid, rm attachment for the top A. The hinge b is made very strong, as all the weight of the top comes upon it through the bows 3 2', the arm c, and the front bow l. If the bows are wider at the top than at the bottom where they are attached to the bar C, unless the latter is inovably fitted into the part b it would be liable to twist in raising and loW- erin g the top, so that the object of allowing this movement is to ease the bows as they are raised or lowered. The pillar -aj has a tin tube, e, on

extend down into the sheet-1netal tube e about half-way, where itis beveled off, and the rubber piece j" sewed to it. The latter has its lower end fastened, by screws or tacks s. s', to the bottom ofthe pillar a, Figs. l and 3.

In operating my device, the top A, Fig. 1,'is let down, in the usual way, by throwing up the braces or top-props. The vallet d is drawn up in sheet-metal tube e, and the parts assume the position shown in dotted lines, Figs. 2 and 5. The rubber band or strip f holds the Vallet d from being pulled out of the tube, and, in contracting, (when the top is raised,) draws it down again and keeps it in place. When the work is new the vallet will return to its place, when drawn out, without any rubber or spring attachment; but to insure its working well at all times, the elastic pecef is attached to its ends. A metallic spring, or other equivalent, may be used, but I prefer the rubber as ,more simple. It will be seen that the Vallet (l, which is extended below the hinged joint 7L, covers it completely, in both the raised and lowered top. The parts a', b, and c, with that part of the bows attached to the former, are also entirely invisible, being. between the cover A and lining C of the top, and not ex posed at any time in either position. Instead of the bow ends moving around a common center, as in the ordinary ina-nner, the joints of a and b move in a cycloid. It will also be observed that the parts a', bf', and c (when the top A is let down) pass down into the recess R, Fig. 6, in the arm-rest, carrying the folds of the cover (between the ends of the bows) with them. In Figs. 5 and 6, G is a curved frame-piece, which unites the back and side (or arm-rest part) of the seat together. The inside view in Fig. 5 is shown, the parts being covered with cloth lining C. This elevation shows a view of the side from the bottom of seat-board to top of arm-rest, with a section of top as folded down. A thin board, k, isnailed on the inside to the pillar a and corner-piece Gr, to which the squab or lining is fastened. The space between this and the cover forms the recess R (see Fig. 6) for the reception of the parts shown.

My invention is equally applicable to ya buggy or phaeton. The only difference necessary is the angle at which the arm'c'is attachedto the front bow l. The front bow in these styles of vehicles being inclined forward,

the arm c will necessarily be raised. This arm may be directly attached to the bow 1, or to the hinge, as shown. I prefer constructing the hinge b long enough to reach about five inches up on bow l', and an equal distance below the joint h, which will embrace the full length of pillar a down to the belt c.

The advantages in lessen'ing the cost of materials for bow attachments and guard-rails, and the eXtra amount of leather to cover these parts, will be fully appreciated by manufac-W Vdown into recess It, in the manner described.

2. Bow l', arm c, and fingers a and b, combined as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The manner of concealing the hinge which connects the front bow with the pillar in a carriage or buggy top, by extending the vallet over the same and attaching it to the pillar below the hinge by an elastic attachment, so that when the top is raised or lowered it will be drawn tightly over the joint, substantially as described.

4. The tube e, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with bow l', vallet d with spring f, as and for the purpose set forth.

(i. rIhe combination of the parts l b g c 2 a 3 b with the recess R, as and for the purpose set forth. l

7. The armrest provided with a recess, R, for the purpose of receiving the connecting ends of bows in a buggy or carriage, and the folds of the cover A of the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JACOB CATROVV, JR.

Attest:

J. CHRISTIE HoLLowAY, S. P. MAST. 

